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About New Politics

New Politics, published since 1986 as a semi-annual, follows in the tradition established in its first series (1961-1978) as an independent socialist forum for dialogue and debate on the left. It is committed to the advancement of the peace and anti-intervention movements. It stands in opposition to all forms of imperialism, and is uncompromising in its defense of feminism and affirmative action. In our pages there is broad coverage of labor and social movements, the international scene, as well as emphasis on cultural and intellectual history.

Above all, New Politics insists on the centrality of democracy to socialism and on the need to rely on mass movements from below for progressive social transformation.

Why We Publish

New Politics is an independent socialist forum for dialogue and debate on the left. We support unions and workers’ struggles throughout the world. We are committed to the advancement of the peace and anti-intervention movements. We stand in opposition to all forms of imperialism and oppression, and we are uncompromising in our defense of the rights of women, people of color, lesbians, gays and the transgendered. In our pages there is broad coverage of labor, social movements, and the international scene, as well as emphasis on cultural and intellectual history. Above all, New Politics insists on the centrality of democracy to socialism and on the need to rely on mass movements from below for progressive social transformation.

These are critical times. Not since before the New Deal have working people in this country been so vulnerable, and perhaps never before have big business and the right been so aggressive and dominant. Abroad, U.S. military and corporate power embraces the world in a stranglehold.

There are hopeful signs: resistance to austerity policies in Greece and France, strikes in China and South Africa, a violently-repressed but still living movement for democracy in Iran, new progressive social movements and socialist political parties in Latin America, heightened global outrage at the repression and intransigence of the Israeli state.

And here in the U.S., there have been some encouraging developments: a vibrant immigrant rights movement, growing opposition to the war in Afghanistan, grassroots demands for jobs and a real stimulus program, the beginnings of a backlash against Tea Party fanaticism. Yet the left remains too organizationally and intellectually weak to seriously challenge the Establishment.

New Politics seeks to revitalize the left as a step towards the creation of an international movement to replace capitalism, as well as non-capitalist exploitative systems, with socialism. NP is not attached or subordinated to any political party or institution. We stand for popular empowerment and democratic control at every level, opposition to all forms of authoritarianism, no matter how "leftist" their rhetoric -- in short, a politics of socialism from below.

During the Cold War, NP was a beacon of principled socialist clarity. It tirelessly exposed the lie that identified the socialist legacy with Communist states. NP championed the struggles of the 60s and 70s movements against the Vietnam War and U.S. intervention in Central America, for women's and black liberation, for union democracy and affirmative action. We enthusiastically supported struggles for democracy in the Soviet bloc. We have firmly defended the rights of both Palestinians and Israelis to self-determination and security.

Since the Cold War, we have spoken out against the ravages inflicted by neoliberalism in this country and throughout the world, and we have exposed U.S. imperial aggression in Somalia, the former Yugoslavia, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Haiti and elsewhere.

NP has been inspired throughout by the vision of a "third camp." During the Cold War it meant "Neither Washington nor Moscow"; today it means opposing Washington's imperial aggression while making no apologies for its antagonists when they are anti-democratic, be they Milosevic, Saddam Hussein, Ahmadinejad, or authoritarian religious fundamentalists.

Today, surveying the bleak political landscape, especially in the U.S., some argue that the left should trim its sails and be modest in its ambitions. We dare not do this. Not caution, but bold and imaginative radicalism is needed.

The aim of NP is to provide a voice to help transform popular struggles for equality, peace, social justice and freedom of cultural expression into a conscious, intelligent movement for a democratic, just and peaceful world.

Founding Editors

Julius Jacobson
(1922-2003)

Phyllis Jacobson
(1922-2010)

Editorial Board

Co-Editors

Saulo Colón

Dan La Botz

Nancy Holmstrom

Jason Schulman

Julia Wrigley

Aaron Amaral

Joanne Landy (1941-2017)

Riad Azar

Betty Reid Mandell (1924-2014)

Sam Bottone (1926-2016)

Marvin Mandell (1927-2017)

John Michael Colón

Scott McLemee

Barry Finger

Stephen R. Shalom

Amber A'Lee Frost

Alan Stowers

Thomas Harrison

Bhaskar Sunkara

Michael Hirsch

Adaner Usmani

Micah Landau

Lois Weiner

Reginald Wilson

Sponsors

Stanley Aronowitz

Justin Grossman

Derrick Bell (1930-2011)

William Kornblum

Elaine Bernard

Jesse Lemisch

Jon Bloom

Nelson Lichtenstein

Stephen Eric Bronner

Ravi Malhotra

Mari Jo Buhle

David McReynolds

Paul Buhle

Deborah Meier

Lynn Chancer

Gwendolyn Mink

Noam Chomsky

Kim Moody

Lorraine Cohen

Kai Nielsen

Bogdan Denitch (1929-2016)

Martin Oppenheimer

Mark Dow

Frances Fox Piven

Michael Eric Dyson

Nancy Romer

Barbara Ehrenreich

Ronnie Steinberg

Barbara Epstein

Stephen Steinberg

Sam Farber

Amos Vogel (1921-2012)

David Finkel

Peter Waterman

Barbara Garson

Stuart Weir

Allen Graubard (1938-2012)

Cornel West

Richard Greeman

Howard Zinn (1922-2010)

Business manager: Barry Finger

What They Say

"New Politics has served for many years as a thoughtful and constructive voice of the independent left. Its analyses and inquiries into a wide range of issues of critical importance have been a constant source of illumination. The journal has made significant contributions to the political culture, filling a role that is very badly needed."

-- Noam Chomsky

"New Politics is an exciting venue for democratic debate. Constructive controversies and diverse perspectives enrich social justice theory and advocacy."

-- Gwendolyn Mink

"New Politics has established itself as a leading independent radical journal. It is uncompromisingly committed to democracy and socialism while encouraging diversity and controversy. Its thoughtful, provocative articles have a permanent place in the literature of the American left."

-- Cornel West

"New Politics speaks to a wide-ranging audience in a stimulating and thoughtful way with theoretical articles as well as essays on current political issues. It has an important place on my bookshelf."

-- Nancy Hartsock

"History, far from coming to a stop is quickening pace. But the left is bewildered. Its project has to be reinvented. For this it needs a genuine debate. New Politics, open and controversial, but also international and firmly anti-capitalist in outlook is a precious instrument in that search."

-- Daniel Singer (1926-2000)

"In these mean times when every aspect of economic, social and racial justice is under assault, when the poor are penalized and the rich rewarded, New Politics, more than ever, has a role to play as an independent journal of the socialist left."

-- Elaine Bernard

"New Politics is one of the most exciting and serious American journals on the left today. As an eco-anarchist, I believe it provides a multi-spectrum forum for a wide range of articles. It is a welcome presence in a time of compromise with and adaptation to capitalist society. It deserves strong support from radicals of all kinds."

-- Murray Bookchin (1921-2006)

"For the best in independent left scholarship, I go to NP. It's stimulating article son the major questions of our day makes it indispensible reading for anti-racist feminists as well as other dissenters from Bush's America."

-- Ellen Boris

"International in perspective, democratic in spirit, and American in its roots, New Politics stubbornly refuses to surrender the dream of socialism or to give the reader the easy comfort of feeling history can only be observed."

-- David McReynolds

"The editors of New Politics have stated their position and they will not yield an inch to bureaucracy, moral corruption or any of the thousands of little vices known to governments, labor organizations and liberal institutions. At once principled and controversial, theirs is consequently the most fearless and the most consistently radical journal that I see."

-- Paul Buhle

"It's been a long, long history that the founders of New Politics and I have traveled together, with loops and turns along the way. New Politics has always been an essential part of my journey and to my thinking through the world we live in."

-- Deborah Meier

"For nearly two generations NP has been essential reading for anyone who seeks to make sense of the great social conflicts of our era."